Brisket from Aaron Franklin at Southern Smoke 2017 held at Underbelly on Oct. 22.

Brisket from Aaron Franklin at Southern Smoke 2017 held at Underbelly on Oct. 22.

Photo: Greg Morago

Charities skip three-course meal for something more filling

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Say the word "gala" and images of ballrooms, tuxedos and chicken entrees spring to mind.

Well, think again.

Several organizations banked their annual budgets on Houston's love of food and philanthropy - fortunately, they're right on the money. This fall, Dress for Success Houston, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse, the Epicurean Project and Southern Smoke collectively raised more than $1.2 million. How's that for a foodie frenzy?

And the profitability of the culinary/charity pairing is no one-off, either. In its 19th year, DFSH's Cuisine for a Cause raked in a record-breaking $418,000, thanks to gourmet stations à la Brasserie 19, Le Colonial, Pax Americana, Pondicheri and more. AVDA's 12th annual Home Safe Home Gala brought the Kashmere Thunder Soul Marching Band into the Crystal Ballroom at the Rice to celebrate $300,000 raised for Hurricane Harvey victims. The Epicurean Project's sophomore soiree at Silver Street Studios forked over $14,300 to Recipe for Success, the chef-competition's beneficiary, after the truffle dust settled. Chris Shepherd and his celebrity chefs raised $500,000 to help food and beverage industry workers and suppliers affected by Hurricane Harvey.